Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State dismissed the threat of the 15 governorship aspirants vying for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the April 20 primary election.
Aiyedatiwa spoke with journalists after he submitted his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja.
The governor will square up against the senator representing Ondo South district, Jimoh Ibrahim; APC chieftain, Olusola Oke; former President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and APC National Vice Chairman (South West), Isaac Kekemeke.
Others are Akinfolarin Samuel, Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
But Aiyedatiwa said he remained the aspirant to beat ahead of the shadow poll, adding that he was not afraid of his co-contestants.
He said, “I am aware we have 15 other aspirants jostling for this same office. They are also eminently qualified. Let me say here that I respect all of them. But we know ourselves. They have been around. We know who they are and what they can do. They are illustrious sons and daughters of the land. But I can tell you there is nothing to fear.
“I can tell you the people of Ondo State know what and who they want. As I said, the youth, women, traders, farmers, artisans, and Ondo workers are all calling for me to continue. Those are the people who will determine who will win the election. I have no fear because they are already speaking. In fact, they have spoken. So there is nothing to fear.
“In the last few years, I have acted in the capacity of deputy governor and acting governor in 2021 and 2023. Now, I am the governor. I am just about 100 days in the office today or tomorrow. I have just about three months in office.
“My desire to contest was in response to the yearning and aspiration of my people. The artisans, women, students, and traditional rulers want me to continue as governor of the state. They have observed and identified that within a short period of my assumption in office. They could see all I have done in the office in three months. Based on that, they demanded across all the local governments that I continue as governor of the state. And I cannot do that without going through the process.”
